Top 10 Libraries in Province of Siena, Tuscany

Reviewed By westy54 - Sydney, Australia

This large single, rather narrow, room with a very high ceiling, used to be part of the priest's house attached to the side of the Duomo. Entry is gained via a side doorway from within the Cathedral. All of the combined tickets into the Duomo include entry into this Library. The Library was built in 1492 by authority of the then Bishop of Siena, Cardinal Francesco Piccolomini (who was to be the future Pope Pius III), to house the books and manuscripts of his uncle, Pope Pius II, and to honour his lifetime achievements. The single room has display cases that house beautifully hand painted and hand written hymn books around the lower part of the walls of the room. Above the display cases the walls are totally covered with richly coloured frescoes of 10 scenes representing various important events in the life of Pope Pius II. The vaulted ceiling is similarly covered in a series of brightly coloured smaller paintings that are geometrically spaced. The frescoes are the work of Pinturicchio, who was born in Perugia, and his workshop and were completed in the first decade of the 16th century. It is believed that a young Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino worked in this workshop for a period at this time. The only statue in the room is a copy of the statue of the The Three Graces, which is based on an original Greek statue. Don't miss seeing this room if visiting the Duomo.